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Two More Deputies
Under Investigation
 Command staff members investigated for
‘serious’ incidents
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
FLORENCE—Pinal County
Sheriff Paul Babeu placed
two members of his command
staff on paid administrative
leave July 1 for allegations
that he described as “serious
in nature.”
One deputy, a commander,
is accused of lying about usage
of an illegal drug on a
polygraph test and the other,
a lutenent, is accused of possible
criminal wrongdoing.
The incidents are not related,
however, Babeu has made it
clear in the past that members
of his command staff will
be required to set the bar for
professionalism and conduct
within the organization.
Newly hired Cmdr. Joseph M. McAuliffe
has been placed on
administrative leave pending
the completion of an administrative
review of the results
of an Arizona Peace Officers
Standards and Training Board
(POST) audit and investigation
regarding allegations of
deception and failure to disclose
pre-employment information.
The Pinal County Sheriff’s
Office (PCSO) Web site reads,
“McAuliffe has served on the
labor management committee,
member of police pension
board, and has experience in
employee performance projects
and evaluation systems.
He served 11 years as a police
officer, including field training
officer and crime prevention
officer. He also has
military police experience,
including K-9 handler.”
According to documents The
Apache Junction/Gold Canyon
News obtained through a
Freedom of Information Act
request, McAuliffe admitted
during a December 2008
polygraph examination that
he tried cocaine in college
by rubbing it on his gums at
a party.
He admitted the use after
previously denying using the
drug during a polygraph. He
also lied about using illegal
drugs on applications for
state certification and on job
applications with the Chandler
Police Department, his
previous employer. Babeu is
also a former Chandler police
officer.
See
A-1
and see
Investigations,
A-3
AJ Man On Bond In
India
 Facing gun charge— held after weapon
found in luggage
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
A 56-year-old Apache Junction
man was released from
jail Thursday, July 2, after
posting $500 bond in India
for bringing an unloaded gun,
35 bullets and three magazines
into the country, which
is illegal by Indian law.
Larry Sellmeyer, who traveled
39 hours on Continental
Airlines from Phoenix Sky
Harbor International Airport
to India for his second hip
surgery, arrived in the country
May 26 with the weapon
packed in his luggage, per
U.S. laws, according to a
statement e-mailed by the
family to The Apache Junction/
Gold Canyon News.
After having the successful
operation on May 29, he tried
to return to the United States
from Chennai Airport on June
11. However, the gun and ammunition
were found and he was arrested. He must
now
stay in the country until his
trial, which should be held
within one to two months, his
family said.
According to the U.S. Department
of State, the government
of India must give permission to bring
in various
restricted items such as firearms,
gold, electronics and
ivory.
He brought the gun to India
due to “fear of safety in a
country where American are
targeted by terrorists.”
Sellmeyer’s daughter, Melinda
Nguyen-Cortes, said in
a phone call that the family
was too upset to meet with
The Apache Junction/Gold
Canyon News.
See
A-1
and see
India Arrest,
A-3
Woman Drives Over
Cliff
 DPS: Driver not seriously injured
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
A 31-year-old Queen Creek
woman was airlifted to
Scottsdale Osborn Medical
Center after losing control of
her vehicle and driving over a
cliff on State Route 88, near
Canyon Lake, at 7:27 a.m.
Tuesday, June 30, according
to the Department of Public
Safety.
Robert Bailey, DPS public
information officer, said
Carlie Herbert, who was not wearing a
seatbelt, was not
seriously injured. Speed and
impairment may have played
a factor in this collision, he
said.
“Preliminary information
suggests she just came around
a left-hand curve and continued
to turn left after the road had
straightened out and then
she overcorrected to the right,
going off the road and down
the steep embankment off of
the right or westbound side
of the roadway,” Bailey said.
“The truck did not overturn
or roll.”
The roadway in the area
was closed from the time of
the collision until about 9:50
a.m. to allow for emergency
crews, medical helicopter and
vehicle removal.
DPS was assisted by the
Apache Junction Fire Department
and the Maricopa County
Sheriff’s Office, he said.
AJHS Volleyball Takes
The Court
 Summer League begins Tuesday, July 7th
at Phoenix College
By Chuck Baker
The News
They competed this past
week as Club Digz in the
Volleyball Festival held at
the Phoenix Convention
Center and begin competing
this Tuesday as Apache
Junction High School in the
Summer Volleyball League
held at Phoenix College.
The AJHS girls will play
three matches this coming
Tuesday, July 7, taking on
Valley Vista at 6 p.m., Horizon
Honors at 7 p.m. and
Williams Field at 9 p.m.
The Summer League continues
play on July 14, 21
and 28 and all matches are
held at Phoenix College.
In addition to competing
as Club Digz in the Volleyball
Festival, the AJHS
girls have been busy this
Summer with a speed/velocity
camp, hosting a volleyball
camp through the
Apache Junction Parks and
Recreation Department for
younger kids and with an
open gym program.
In addition to participating
in the Phoenix College
Summer League, the Lady
Prospectors, coached by
Mandy Gamboa and Jake
Heermans, will continue
with their speed and velocity
training all July, are
scheduled to compete in
the Florence High School
Tournament on Saturday,
July 18, and may also travel
to Oxnard, Calif., midmonth
for the Thousand
Oaks High School Tournament.
The AJHS girls will also
be hosting another camp
August 3-6 for prospective
players and all incoming
freshmen and their official
first day of tryouts for the
2009 high school season is
slated for Monday, August
10, from 2:40 p.m. to 4:45
p.m.
For more information
about the schedule and
the upcoming high school
season, visit the
www.ajhs.
ajusd.org Web site and
search for the volleyball
website under “sports.”
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